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Unlocking Democracy is a community support program and the central hub for Policing Equity’s community-centered resources, initiatives, and interactive working groups. This program is designed to support community leaders seeking to build more equitable public safety systems. This work is conducted through collaborative partnerships with values-aligned organizations and government officials that share Unlocking Safety’s goal to uplift the efforts of Black and other historically marginalized communities in confronting racial disparities in policing.

Learning Communities and Data Connection

Many communities are exploring ways to redesign public safety; however, much of the dialogue, policy, and practice around these models are fairly new. In response, CPE and The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center host a joint series of Learning Communities focused on policing alternatives. 

These virtual learning communities assist interdisciplinary teams seeking to implement, sustain, and evaluate policing alternatives, including Community Violence Intervention Programs, Community and Crisis Response Teams to Improve Responses to Youth, Support HBCU Behavioral Health Crisis Responses, and Substance Use and Overdose Community Response Programs.

Upcoming Modules

Community Violence Intervention Programs

Designed to reduce gun violence by integrating various strategies for behavioral change.

Thursday, April 24, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025

Community and Crisis Response Teams to Improve Responses to Youth

Developing and improving crisis responses for children, teens, and young adults.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Supporting HBCU Behavioral Health Crisis Response

Developing and uplifting public health and community-centered crisis response strategies to better address student needs and create safer and more supportive campus environments.

Thursday, April 10, 2025
Thursday, May 8, 2025

Substance Use and Overdose Community Response Programs

Expanding emergency response efforts by using public health and community-centered approaches to substance use and overdose response.

Thursday, April 17, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025

How to Join

Interdisciplinary teams can apply to join an upcoming learning community cohort by clicking on any of the learning module links above. Teams applying to participate should include multidisciplinary members including essential community members and professionals positioned to achieve program goals.

Elected Leaders Council

Launched in partnership with the CSG Justice Center, CPE’s Elected Leaders Council is a peer-to-peer learning community for elected officials nationwide who are dedicated to spearheading innovative efforts to take actionable steps toward true public safety reform.

The Elected Leaders Council brings together elected officials and staff members seeking to implement new approaches to public safety, including Consent Search Reform, Ending Low-Level Traffic Stops, Non-Police Traffic Enforcement, and Police Stop Data Transparency.

Upcoming Council Sessions

The Spring 2025 Cohort of the ELC used listening sessions to better understand the challenges, successes, opportunities, and lessons learned by elected leaders seeking to advocate for and implement community safety programs in their communities. Listening sessions for the Spring 2026 cohort will be listed in the fall.

How to Join

Elected officials and staff members of elected officials can register for upcoming sessions by clicking on the register button above. To learn more about other opportunities to receive assistance in piloting alternatives to law enforcement in communities, contact us at elc@policingequity.org. Those interested can also learn more about the CSG Justice Center’s alternative response work here

Phara Souffrant Forrest New York State Assemblymember

"I'm proud to be part of the Elected Leaders Council to connect with peers who are driving alternative response work in our communities. This initiative will help plant the seeds for new approaches to public safety that I plan to bring to my work in my district."

Max Weisman Communications Director for Philadelphia Councilmember Isaiah Thomas

"Our office was humbled to present and honored to meet similar-minded elected officials. When crafting Driving Equality in Philadelphia—the success came from the ability to collaborate with partners across the city. With Elected Leaders Council, we are excited to join in a similarly collaborative and equity-focused process with partners across the country."

Crystal Hudson New York City Councilmember

"The Elected Leaders Council is an innovative way to connect and share ideas for true public safety with elected officials from across the country. The program uses a community-centered approach and will help plant the seeds for tangible reform."

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